Electrical relay



June 19, 1934. z H r AL 1,963,750

ELECTRICAL RELAY Filed Feb. 19. 1931 l f rm 4 r2 I k") D i 9: C (I WM ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,963,750 ELECTRICAL RELAY Branko Lazich,Edgewood, and Harry E. Ashworth, Swissvale, Pa., assignors to The UnionSwitch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication February 19, 1931, Serial No. 516,934

15 Claims. (Cl. 175320) Our invention relates to electrical relays. ing5, but since contact l111 is closed, winding We will describe one formof electrical relay 6 is short-circuited, and winding 6 thereforereembodying our invention, and will then point out mains deenergized.The energization of winding the novel features thereof in claims. setsup a flux in core 1 which causes armature 5 The accompanying drawing isa diagrammatic 8 to swing toward pole piece 1 During this mo- 60 viewillustrating one form of relay embodying tion of the armature, contactsIO-40 and 11 our invention. 11 become opened, and contacts l0-l0' andReferring to the drawing, the reference char- 11-11 become closed. Theclosing of contact acter A designates an electromagnet which, in 11l1short-circuits winding 5, and the field the form here shown, comprisesthree magnetset up by this winding commences to decay. Due, 65 izablecores 1, 2 and 3 connected together at their however, to theshort-circuited winding and to upper ends by a backstrap 4, and providedat the sleeve '7 on core 3, this decay is comparatively their lower endswith enlarged pole pieces 1 slow. The Opening of contact 1111 meantime 2and 3%, respectively. The cores 1 and 2 are has allowed winding 6 tobecome energized. The

provided with energizing windings 5 and 6, regrowth of the flux set upin core 2 by this latter 70 spectively, while the core 3 is providedwith a Winding s likewise comparatively W ue to closed conductingmember, here shown as a, sleeve '7 on core 3, but after an interval oftime, sleeve '7 of suitable material, such as copper. the to q eXeTted0n armature 8 byithis flux The pole piece 3 i bifurcated, and pivotal lyoverbalances the torque exerted on armature 8 supported between thebifurcations of this pole by the decayi g flux in Core d a ture 8 75piece for swinging motion toward one or the then swings back towa d Dpiece This other of the pole pieces 1 or 2 is a magnetmotion first openscontacts 1010 and l1--11"= izable armature 8. Attached to the undersideof and then s s on acts 1010 and 1l11 armature 8 by means of suitableinsulating sup- The l 0f Winding 5 then slowly b d p a d ports 9 are t tt fingers 10 d 11 wh the field of winding 6 slowly decays, the building80 armature 8 is swung toward pole piece 2', as p Of the d 0f Winding 5being a by shown in th drawing, t t finger 10 engages sleeve '7, and thedecay of the field of winding 6 a fixed front contact member 10 to closea conbeing retarded both y sleeve 7. a d by t e self t 10 10a and t tfinger 11 engages a inductance of the short-circuited winding 6.

fixed t t member b to close t t Eventually, the torque exerted by thedecaying.85 11 11b when armature 7 is swung toward pole flux in winding6 will not be sufficient to hold piece 1, however, contact finger 10then engages the armature. and e armature Will n a ain a fixed contactmember 10 to close a contact Swing toward D piece It Will be pp 10 10bwhile Contact finger 11 engages a fixed therefore, that armature 8 isswung to and fro.

Contact member 11a to Close a Contact a as long as switch'13 is closed,and it will also be The windings 5 and 6 are Connected in Series,apparent that a considerable interval of time and are supplied withCurrent from Suitable elapses between successive armature movements.Soot-Co of energy shown as a battery In a relay of the type described,it is sometimes It will be seen from an inspection of the drawdesirableto Very the interval of time Which 40 mg however, that when Cohtaot 1111b is Closed, elapses between successive armature movements. asillustrated in the drawing, winding 6 is shorte have found that this maybe done by Supply- ChCuited, and that When Cohta'ot 11 11a is ing core 3with an additional flux; the time inclosed, winding 5 is shortwhouited'The wind terval which elapses between armature moveihgs 5 and 6 are soarranged that the fl x ments being increased as the strength of this ad-5 which are Set up in Core 3 by Currents in those ditional flux isincreased when the additional windings, thread co 3 i th Same direction.flux threads core 3 in the same direction as the The Supply of Currentto the windings 5 and 6 resultant flux in the core due to the currentsupmay be controlled in any suitable manner, as by plied to windings 5and 6, and being decreased as a manually operable Switch the strength ofthe additional flux is increased 50 The portion of t relay t fardescribed is when the additional flux threads core 3 in the well known,and its operation is as follows: As Opposite direction from the s a t uxin core shown in the drawing, switch 13 is open and 3 due to the Currentpp d to w ndings 5 and armature 7 is swung toward pole piece 2, so thate Way in which the additional flux y contacts 10-10 and 11--11 areclosed. If, now, e up d t core 3 is to pp y a a netomotive 55 switch 13is closed, current'flows through windforce to the core, and the meanshere shown for 10 n O u doing this comprises a winding 14 whichsurrounds the core and which is at times supplied with current frombattery 12. The supply of current to winding 14 may be controlled in anysuitable manner such as by a manually operable switch 15, and a variableresistor 16 or other suitable means may be connected in series with thewinding to regulate the magnitude of the current which is supplied tothe winding when switch 15 is closed. It is usually desirable todecrease the time interval which elapses between armature movements,that is to say, increase the speed of oscillation of the armature, andwinding 14 is therefore preferably connected with battery 12 in suchmanner that the flux which is set up in core 3 when switch 15 is closed,threads the core in the opposite direction from the resultant flux inthe core due to the current supplied to windings 5 and 6.

With the relay constructed in this manner it will readily be seen thatif contact 15 is open when contact 13 is closed, the armature willoscillate at one speed, but that if contact 15 is closed when contact 13is closed, the armature will then oscillate at a faster speed, the speedat which the armature oscillates in the latter case being determined fora given proportioning of the parts, by the adjustment of the variableresistor 16.

It should be pointed out that the sleeve 7 is not essential to theoperation of the relay, except when it is desired that the armatureshould oscillate at comparatively slow speeds, and it follows that iffaster oscillation of the armature is desired, this sleeve may beomitted.

It should be noted that when winding 14 is supplied with current in suchmanner that the flux set up in core 3 by this winding opposes the fluxin core 3 due to the current supplied to windings 5 and 6, as shown inthe drawing, then in the event that winding 14 becomes short-circuitedor open-circuited for any reason, the speed of oscillation of thearmature will be decreased. This is particularly desirable where theoscillation of the armature 8 is employed to actuate timing mechanismfor use in railway signaling systems because damage to the winding 14will not cause premature operation of the timing mechanism which mightresult in a dangerous condition.

One advantage of a relay embodying our invention is that the relay maybe made to operate at two different speeds without altering thearrangement or proportioning of the parts, the change in speed beingeffected merely by the closing of contact 15.

Another advantage of a relay embodying our invention is that it issimple in construction and reliable in operation.

Still another advantage of a relay embodying our invention is that therange of speed adjustment extends between wide limits.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of electricalrelay embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

l. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner iat said armature is oscillated, said windings being soarranged that the fiux set up in said third core when either of saidwindings is energized always threads said third core in the samedirection, and means for applying to said third core a magnetomotiveforce for controlling the resultant fiux which threads said third coredue to said windings.

2. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner that said armature is oscillated, said windings being soarranged that the flux set up in said third core when either of saidwindings is energized always threads said third core in the samedirection, a third winding on said third core, and means for supplyingsaid third winding with current to modify the resultant flux whichthreads said third core due to said first and second indings.

3. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a baclcstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and aecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner that said armature is oscillated, said windings being soarranged that the flux set up in said third core when either of saidwindings is energized always threads said third core in the samedirection, a third winding on said third core, means for supplying saidthird winding with current to create in said third core an additionalflux which modifies the resultant flux through said third core due tosaid first and second windings, and means for varying the magnitude ofthe current supplied to said third winding.

4. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner that said armature is oscillated, said windings being soarranged that the flux set up in said third core when either of saidwindings is energized always threads said third core in the samedirection, and means for supplying said third core with an additionalflux which opposes the resultant flux which threads said core due tosaid windings.

5. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner alternately energizing that said armature is oscillated,windings. being so arranged-that the fiux'set'up-in said third core wheneither of said windings is energized always threads said third core inthe same direction, a third winding on said third core, means forsupplying said third winding with current to create in said third corean additional flux which opposes the resultant flux which threads saidthird core due to the energization of saidfirst and second windings, andmeans for varying the strength of'the current supplied. to said thirdwinding to vary the magnitude of said additional flux. I

6. A relay comprising threemagnetizable cores connected together at one.end by abackstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and: asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means for alternately energizing said windings insuch manner that said armature is oscillated, said windings being soarranged that the flux set up in said third core when either of saidwindings is energized always threads said third core in the samedirection, a conducting sleeve on said third core, and means forapplying to said third core a magnetomotive force for controlling theresultant flux which threads said third core due to said windings.

'7. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together atone end by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores anda second winding on a second one of said cores, an

armature pivotally attached to the third one of said cores and arrangedto swing toward said first or said second core according as said firstor said second winding is energized, means for said windings in suchmanner that said armature is oscillated, said windings being so arrangedthat the fiux set up in said third core when either of said windings isenergized always threads said third core in the same direction, meansassociated with said third core for delaying the growth and decay of thefiux set up by said windings, and means for applying to said third corea magnetomotive force for controlling the resultant flux which threadssaid third core due to said windings.

'1 mature pivotally attached to the third one of said cores and arrangedto swing toward said first or said second core, means for supplying saidfirst winding with current and for short-circuiting said second windingwhen said armature is swung tov ward said second core and for supplyingsaid second winding with current and for short-circuiting said firstwinding when said armature is swung toward said first core whereby saidarmature is made to oscillate, said windings being so arranged that thefiux set up by current in either of said windings always threads saidthird core in the same direction, and means for applying to said thirdcore a magnetomotive force for controlling the resultant fiux whichthreads said third core due to said windings.

9. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores,

511 an armature pivotally attached to the third one of saidcores andarrangedto; swing toward said first or said second core, means 01supplyin sa d first winding with current and for short circuit-m ingsaid second winding when said armature is swung toward said. second.core and for supplying said second winding with current and for short-1circuiting said first winding whenv said armature is swung towardv saidfirst core whereby said armature is made. tov oscillate, said windingsbeing: so arranged that the fiux set up by current in ei-v ther of. saidwindings always, threads. said, third,

core inthe same direction, a conducting sleeve,

on. said third core for retarding the growth, and, decay ofv the fluxset, up, by current in either of said windings, and means for applyingto said; third corea magnetomotive force for controlling. the resultantflux/which threads said. third core due to said A 10. A relay comprisingthree, magnetizable cores; connected together at one end by a backstrap,a first winding on a first one of said cores and a second winding onv asecond one of said cores, an armature pivotally attached to the thirdone of said cores and arranged to swing toward said first or said secondcore, means for supplying said first winding with current and forshort-circuiting said second winding when said armature is swung towardsaid second core and for supplying said second winding with current andfor short-circuiting said first winding when said armature is swungtoward said first core whereby said armature is made to oscillate, saidwindings being so arranged that the fiux set up by current in either ofsaid windings always threads said third core in the same direction, aconducting sleeve on said third core for retarding the growth and decayof the flux set up by current in either of said first and secondwindings, a third winding on said third core, means for supplying saidthird winding with current to modify the resultant fiux which threadssaid third core due to current in said first and second windings, andmeans for varying the strength of the current supplied to said thirdwinding.

11. In combination, three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first core or said second core, means for energizing said windingsin such manner that said armature is oscillated, a third winding on saidthird core, and means for supplying said third winding with current tovary the speed at which said armature is oscillated when said first andsecond windings are energized.

12. In combination, three magnetizable cores connected together at oneend by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores and asecond winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to said third core and arranged to swing toward said first coreor said second core according as said first or said second winding isenergized, means for alternately energizing said windings in such mannerthat said armature is oscillated, said windings being so arranged thatthe fiux which is set up in said third core when either of said windingsis energized always threads said third core in the same direction, andmeans for at times increasing the speed at which said armature isoscillated when said first and second windings are energized, said meanscomprising a third winding on said third core which is at times suppliedwith current in such manner that the flux which is set up in said thirdcore due to current in said third winding opposes the resultant flux insaid third core due to said first and second winding.

13. A relay comprising three magnetizable cores connected together atone end by a backstrap, a first winding on a first one of said cores anda second winding on a second one of said cores, an armature pivotallyattached to the third one of said cores and arranged to swing towardsaid first or said second core according as said first or said secondwinding is energized, means controlled by said armature for alternatelyenergizing said windings in such manner that said armature isoscillated, said windings being so arranged that the flux set up in saidthird core when either of said windings is energized always threads saidthird core in the same direction, and means for applying to said thirdcore a magnetomotive force for controlling the resultant flux w'l iichthreads said third core due: to said windings.

14. The combination with a relay having a magnetizable core, anarmature, and means for supplying said core with flux to oscillate saidarmature, of separate and distinct means for at times applying a sourceof magnetomotive force to a portion of said core to vary the speed ofoscillation of said armature.

15. The combination with a relay having a magnetizable core, anarmature, and means for supplying said core with flux to oscillate saidarmature, of separate and distinct means for at times applying anadditional flux to a portion of said core to vary the speed ofoscillation of said armature.

BRANKO LAZICH. HARRY E. ASI-IWORTH.

